Approval of the written architectural plan for the new library for Westernport was given last week by Miss Stella Loeffler, director of library extension, Maryland Department of Schools, according to Robert Neal, librarian of the Allegany County Library, of which Westernport library is a branch.

The Mayor and Commissioners of Westernport are giving the land for the site of the library, which will be located across from the Westernport fire hall. The site is valued at between $16,000 and $17.000. Maryland's share of federal funds under the Library Construction and Service Act will be $45,000. Another appropriation is expected to come from the Appalachian funds, which have been earmarked for the library project but which as yet have not been allotted or granted. Available is over $3,000 willed to the library by the late Mrs. Joseph Mason, formerly of Walnut street, Westernport.

County Engineer Albert S. Paye and Librarian Neal will be in Westernport tomorrow at 1:30 o'clock to test the ground for the proposed site.

A list of available architects will be obtained and an architect will be selected at the next board meeting. The board will also decide whether or not the county or the library will take care of the bookkeeping for the library. Mr. Neal hopes that everything will be in readiness to start construction in the fall.

The building and equipment will cost approximately $150,000 and will contain about 5,000 square feet of space. The structure will contain a lot of glass and the front will be warm and inviting.

The library will house about 15,000 books with sections for adult and reference books and for children's books. The adult section will seat 35 persons and the children's section 30. Twenty magazines will be available for reading. Visual materials and records will also be provided by the library.

A community or conference room will seat 35 persons. Wall to wall carpeting will be used. Other facilities will include a drinking fountain and public rest rooms. An acoustical ceiling and complete air conditioning will be provided. Electric wall clocks will be placed in the main room and in the conference room.

A flag pole, a lighted sign and a book return slot will be placed in front of the building. Flood lighting will be provided in the front and rear of the building. The grounds will be attractively landscaped.

The Westernport library is growing and has increased its circulation from 6 percent to 10 percent of the Allegany county total. Percentage wise the growth is greater than that for any other library in the county.

The library has reciprocity with the Maryland and Garrett county libraries and can provide a book within a day's notice, Okey Michael, of Westernport, member of the Allegany County Library board, reports.

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Creator:Piedmont Herald.

Notes:This photograph, from the collection of Al Feldstein, shows the new concrete Washington Street Bridge in Westernport in 1950. Across George's Creek on the left hand side of the road is the City Building, where the library was located. Initially it was on the second floor, but later moved to the ground floor.